Chappell Roan‘s Kentuckiana Pride performance look pays homage to the legendary drag icon Divine, specifically channeling the over-the-top camp aesthetic of John Waters’ films. The outfit layers clashing animal print directly against garish, sparkling crimson, combining classic trash-cinema glamour with theatrical pop performance energy.
Recreating this stage ensemble comes down to handling the contrast between the tight, second-skin base and the massive volume around the hips. Because the costume relies heavily on texture and silhouette rather than tailored tailoring, assembling the look centers on smart garment pairing, strategic padding, and rhinestone detailing.
Layering the Bodysuit and Tights
The foundation of the entire outfit starts with a full-coverage animal print bodysuit. A leopard or cheetah pattern with long sleeves and a mock neck provides the wild print visible across the arms, chest, and neckline. A four-way stretch spandex or nylon blend maintains pattern density when pulled taut across the body, preventing the spots from washing out or turning sheer under direct lighting.
Fishnet tights layer over the lower half to add another layer of texture to the legs. You can pull the fishnets directly over the bodysuit legs if your catsuit has enclosed feet, or pair standard footed fishnets underneath ankle boots. Choosing an industrial or wide-gauge mesh helps the diamond pattern remain distinct instead of blurring against the background spots.
Building the Crimson Silhouette
Over the bodysuit sits a fitted red dress that anchors the upper body. A scoop-neck, sweetheart, or strapless cut allows the animal print to show clearly across the chest, shoulders, and collarbones while keeping the torso solid crimson. A stretch mini dress silhouette functions best here, serving as the base anchor for the massive skirt volume attached below.
Extreme volume is necessary to achieve Divine’s signature proportions. A separate red tulle skirt worn either underneath the dress hem or belted securely at the waistline creates the dramatic flared silhouette Roan wore on stage. Stacking multiple layers of stiff crinoline netting produces that wide, exaggerated hourglass bell shape that holds its structural flare through vigorous movement.
Rhinestone Placement and Application
The stage outfit catches stage lighting with dense scatterings of red rhinestones across the red dress. Concentrating flat-backed red rhinestones around the neckline, waist, and hip seams creates gradient sparkle that accentuates the garment seams. Applying them with a flexible fabric adhesive like Gem-Tac or E6000 Fabri-Fuse allows the stretch fabric to move without popping stones off during wear.
The Signature Divine Face and Hair
Divine’s aesthetic relies almost entirely on radical drag makeup and gravity-defying hair. Roan recreated Divine’s famous arched brow by blocking out natural eyebrows with a purple glue stick, setting the skin with translucent powder, and drawing pencil-thin, soaring black arches high onto the forehead. Vivid blue and turquoise shadow swept outward toward the temples pairs with sharp winged liquid eyeliner and dramatically overdrawn red lips.
The hair demands an intensely teased, voluminous platinum or light blonde wig with maximum height at the crown. Sectioning the synthetic fibers, backcombing heavily from roots to mid-lengths, and misting each section with an industrial-strength freeze spray produces an unyielding bouffant that withstands heat and movement throughout an entire day of wear.
